Riding Shotgun NASCAR style

NASCAR and DirecTV have joined forces and will offer NASCAR HotPass in 2007.

NASCAR fans and DirecTV viewers will now have the opportunity to watch an entire NASCAR race from behind the wheel.

NASCAR HotPass will debut on DirecTV at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007.

Subscribers to this new service will have access to five channels dedicated to different drivers that will change each week. According to DirecTV, each channel will have up to six cameras and two isolated announcers focusing directly on one driver for an entire race.

Viewers will also have the ability to hear in-car audio communication between the driver and his crew, along with real-time statistics and cameras covering just about every angle from inside the car for the entire race.

Fans will have to pay $99 for a season pass. The package is available starting Dec. 13. Here are all of the features that fans can enjoy:

5 individual driver channels with dedicated announcers

36 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races

Live TV broadcasts

Front windshield camera angle with select telemetry readings

Overhead, pit box and corner cameras – 25 in all

Live two-way audio between driver, crew chief and spotter

Real time statistics

Currently, Time Warner Cable customers have a similar NASCAR in-car video and audio package that is offered to their subscribers. Last racing season, I spent one Sunday afternoon watching a NASCAR race with Trey Ware from KTSA radio. He has the Time Warner Cable package and all that I can say is that it is awesome. It truly is the best way to watch a NASCAR race on television.

Now, if the Dish Network can come up with a similar package, I’ll be one happy NASCAR fan.